Physical Simulation of Solid Liquid Mixture Stability in Molten Aluminum

Abstract

Mixing behaviour is a very important process for preparation of aluminum foam by foaming in melt route due to the dispersion of foaming agent, thickening agent or stabilizing agent being added into the liquid metal. However, some unfavourable factors, such as active chemical properties, easy oxidation and evaporation, no fixed shape and opacification of liquid metal at high temperature, result in it is very difficult to observe the melt stirring and changing process. The mixing behaviour of molten aluminium matrix composite was simulated on the basis of water-based system. In addition to visual observation of the mixing effect, gray histogram was introduced to analyse the dispersion of solid particles in aqueous solution quantificationally. The whole experimental procedures were recorded by MV-Capture industrial camera and the intercepted image information was converted to digital information, i.e. standard deviation originated from the gray histogram. The results showed that the stabilization of aqueous solution can be characterized by the obtained digital information and the physical simulation can provide guidance for the fabrication of metal foams.